Employee Benefits Broker for Growing Teams
Cut employee benefits costs by 20%+

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A modern employee benefits strategy for your stage

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I got robbed. I was too busy to notice.

44 employees. Two 15-minute calls. Real savings to the P&L.

Customer stories
An employee benefits broker is a licensed intermediary who helps employers design, source, and manage group benefits, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, and more. They connect your business with carriers, shop the market on your behalf, and negotiate terms. A good broker also advises on plan design, compliance, and cost control year-round, not just at renewal.
A broker brings market access and expertise most smaller employers lack in-house. Instead of calling carriers one by one, you get someone who knows which plans fit your budget and workforce, handles the paperwork, and helps employees with enrollment and claims. They also keep you current on regulations like ACA reporting and COBRA, cutting your compliance risk.
Employee benefits brokers are typically paid through commissions built into the premium by the carrier — a percentage of premium or a flat per-employee-per-month amount.
Smaller groups have less leverage and sit in pools where one or two big claims can spike rates, so carriers price in more cushion. Large employers often self-fund, spread risk across more lives, and negotiate directly.
The cost is typically the same or less, because commissions are already baked into the premium whether or not you use a broker, so buying "direct" rarely earns a discount. What a broker adds is the ability to compare carriers and spot lower-cost options. The real savings come from smarter plan design over time, not from cutting out the broker.
Not impossible — just harder, and the friction is partly by design. Most plans run on 12-month contracts, so switching mid-term can mean penalties, gaps, or re-enrollment, which is why brokers often say to wait for renewal. But qualifying events, carrier non-compliance, or absorbing the transition cost can open the door earlier. It's a question of cost and effort, not a hard rule.
Look at whether they specialize in your size and industry, how they're compensated, and what they do between renewals, as service matters more than the sales pitch. Ask about carrier relationships, compliance support, enrollment technology, and whether you'll get a dedicated contact. References from similar businesses and clear written fee disclosure are good signals.
The largest are the global brokerages: Marsh & McLennan, Aon, and Arthur J. Gallagher lead by revenue, with Willis Towers Watson close behind. Ranked by benefits revenue specifically, Mercer (a Marsh business) has topped the list, followed by Gallagher, Willis, USI, and Lockton. Large employee benefits brokers typically engage with companies over 500 employees, which is where Ignition fits in, as we specialize and best serve companies with 25-200 employees.



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